Toowong cemetery angels

Reverend Charles Ogg wearing ecclesiastical robes. Charles Ogg was the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Queensland. Source: State Library of Queensland - https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/1dejkfd/alma99183506658002061

Rev. Charles Ogg, founder of the Presbyterian Church in Queensland, led James Swan's funeral. The coffin was draped in the Union Jack and three volleys were fired as it was lowered.

When James' parents learnt of his illness, they started travelling from Melbourne, unaware of their tragic loss.

Members of the Spring Hill and Fortitude Valley Volunteer Rifle Corps, ca. 1868. Source: State Library of Queensland - https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/1dejkfd/alma99183512824102061

The No.1 & No.4 Volunteer Companies gathered, led by Lt. Macgregor, to pay their respects to their comrade, James Swan.

With reversed arms, a firing party marched ahead as the Volunteer Band played the Dead March. The procession passed through Brisbane’s streets to the burial ground in Paddington…

James Swan's headstone in Toowong Cemetery. The inscription reads: Scared to the memory of James Swan Only ??? son ??? of John and Helen Swan Who died 24 March 1868 Aged 20 years and 5 months A life regretted by all who knew him James Swan was reinterred in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Portion 6, Section 26, Grave 25. Friends of Toowong Cemetery is a volunteer group that discover and share the history and stories of Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

James Swan, aged 20, died on 24 March 1868 at Alice Cottage, Alice-street, Brisbane.

He was a compositor in the Government Printing Office and a member of the Volunteer Band.

Members of the Volunteer Rifle Companies and Band, as a mark of respect, decided to give James a military funeral…

Congratulations to the Australian Remembrance Army for securing a grant from the Australian Government to mark 120 unmarked graves of World War 1 soldiers in Toowong Cemetery.

An outstanding achievement by Katrina Trevethan and Cate Walker.

Lest We Forget 🌺

www.dva.gov.au/news/latest-...

Archaeology enthusiasts dig up the past at cemetery Spending Saturday digging in the dirt at the local cemetery may not sound like your average weekend activity, but for Brisbane's Time Team and Indiana Jones enthusiasts, it's ideal.

Here's a little more about the "Beautification Scheme". There's not much online about it. www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05...

Magdalene Dick - Friends of Toowong Cemetery Friends of Toowong Cemetery is a volunteer group that discover and share the history and stories of Toowong Cemetery.

Magdalene Dick was born in Brecon, Wales around 1851. She became superintendent of the first group of female switchboard operators at the Brisbane telephone exchange.

Magdalene died on 22 July 1922. Her headstone was demolished in the 1970's.

Charles Stuart Mein - Friends of Toowong Cemetery The first solicitor to be appointed a Judge of the Queensland Supreme Court

The Honourable Charles Stuart Mein was a Judge of the Queensland Supreme Court. He died on the 30th June 1890, aged 49.

His headstone was demolished in the 1970's as part of the Brisbane City Council's "Beautification Scheme".

Demolished Toowong Cemetery Headstones - Friends of Toowong Cemetery Headstones demolished by the Brisbane City Council as part of their

Where did my family's grave go?

The Brisbane City Council demolished over 1000 graves in Toowong Cemetery in the 1970's.

We've published data about 725 demolished graves in a searchable table.

See a photo of the grave before it was demolished. 📸

www.fotc.au/headstones/d...

A photo of the covers of the books, 'A Tomb with a View' and 'Steeple Chasing Around Britain by Church' by Peter Ross. Covers by Edward Bettison.

Just finished A Tomb with a View: The Stories & Glories of Graveyards by @peteralanross.bsky.social which I received as a Christmas present. It's a fantastic read. Highly recommended. 💜

Next I'll be Steeple Chasing Around Britain by Church.

Young boy standing beside a headstone at Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, ca. 1902. Eversley Hull standing beside the headstone of Joseph Postlethwaite, Toowong Cemetery. The location of this grave at the Toowong Cemetery is Portion 11, Section 26, Grave 14. Eversley Hull was born in 1895 and Joseph Postlethwaite died on 23rd May 1901. (Description supplied with photograph.) Source: State Library of Queensland - https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/1dejkfd/alma99183507007602061

🙏🏼 Thank you to everyone who came along to the Friends of Toowong Cemetery guided tour today and throughout 2025.

That was our last tour for 2025.

Our next tour is on Sunday 1 February 2026. Hope to see you there.

www.fotc.au/guided-tours/

Come along to our FREE Toowong Cemetery Guided Tour, tomorrow, Sunday, 7 December 2025, 10:30am—12:00.

The tour is titled, "Christmas Shopping in 1877". 🌲🎁🎅🏼

Meet under the flagpole in Canon Garland Place.

Driving here? Use the Richer St entrance.

www.fotc.au/guided-tours/

The Flagpole in Canon Garland Place, Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane is where Friends of Toowong Cemetery guided tours depart from. It's next to the "Cross of Sacrifice" and "The Stone of Remembrance" which were erected and unveiled in 1924. Guided tours are free but donations are appreciated to help us continue our work. Tours are on the first Sunday of each month (February to December) from 10:30am to 12:00. There's no need to book, and there is plenty of parking available inside the cemetery.

Come along to our FREE Toowong Cemetery Guided Tour, next Sunday, 7 December 2025, 10:30am—12:00.

The tour is titled, "Christmas Shopping in 1877". 🌲🎁🎅🏼

Meet under the flagpole in Canon Garland Place.

Driving here? Use the Richer St entrance.

www.fotc.au/guided-tours/

Nice Aussie connection 🇦🇺

National Funeral Museum UK T Cribb & Sons

Just came across the National Funeral Museum in Beckton, London.

It's now on my list of potential places to visit as part of a UK trip in 2026.

Any other suggestions? I'll be mainly in the south of England and Wales.

A map showing Croydon in North West Queensland.

William Browne's political career started in 1893 as the MLA for Croydon (in-between Normanton and Gilbert River). He held the seat until his death on 12 April 1904.

Browne was leader of the Opposition and chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party (1900—1903) and then became Minister of Mines.

Queensland politician William Henry Browne, ca. 1899. William Henry Browne is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Portion 11, Section 51, Grave 3. Source: State Library of Queensland - https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/1dejkfd/alma99183507913802061

William Henry Browne was born 13 September 1846 in Pimlico, London. He was a Royal Navy seaman in 1857 before joining the merchant marines.

Browne moved to New South Wales in 1866, where he worked as a goldminer. He was the president and secretary of the Amalgamated Miners Association of Croydon.

Thomas Kingsmill McCullough's headstone in Toowong Cemetery. 🪦 Thomas Kingsmill McCullough is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Portion 6, Section 21, Grave 10.

Thomas Kingsmill McCullough's headstone in Toowong Cemetery. Inscription: Sacred to the memory of Thomas Kingsmill McCullough only son of Mr. William McCullough of Brisbane. Who died at Creen Creek Telegraph Station on Sunday 24th March 1872 in his 26th year. Thomas Kingsmill McCullough is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Portion 6, Section 21, Grave 10.

Thomas McCullough died on 24 March 1872, 9 days after returning to Creen Creek.

Green returned to Gilbert River Station to report what happened.

Electric Telegraph Department Officers funded a memorial for Thomas in Brisbane.

Full story: buff.ly/49YJrNC

Telegraph Inn at Gilbert River in Queensland - early 1900s Thomas Kingsmill McCullough is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Portion 6, Section 21, Grave 10.

McCullough and Green returned to Creen Creek after floods subsided. The telegraph line needed repair. Thomas had a fever, so sent Green out.

He returned the next day to find Thomas face down on the floor.

Gilbert River Station called. Green helped Thomas to the instrument but he fell unconscious.

Map showing telegraph line from Cardwell to the Gulf of Carpentaria. 16 miles to an inch. Government Engraving and Lithographic Office, Brisbane. 1872. The telegraph line is shown in red. Creen Creek Station is in the centre of the map. Gilbert River Station down and to the right. Thomas Kingsmill McCullough is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Portion 6, Section 21, Grave 10. Source: Queensland State Archives, Item Representation ID DR65108

In July 1871 Thomas Kingsmill McCullough was promoted to line repairer in charge at Creen Creek Telegraph Station(~100km from Normanton and Gilbert River).

The January rain started and running low on supplies, and to wet to ride horses, Thomas and offsider Green walked for 3 days to Gilbert River.

If you have any suggestions on how to improve our website, your feedback is very welcome. 💜

Friends of Toowong Cemetery Discover and share the history and stories of Toowong Cemetery

There'll be a lot less posts from Friends of Toowong Cemetery for a while as our focus turns to porting our website to a new solution.

You can always get your fix at www.fotc.au

Apologies in advance if something breaks. 🤞

The IHS Emblem is from the Greek alphabet, (I) Iota, (H) Eta, and (Σ) Sigma and represents the first Greek word for Jesus or Christ.

I’m seeing horizontal lines with the Southern Cross overlaid. Perhaps stars over the ocean?

At the top of the shield is a cross.

Above the shield is a flying bird… I think. 🤔

Kiribati is north of Fiji so it’s a good lead, thank you 💜

Did you enjoy #31DaysOfGraves?

Don't know what to do now?

Check out the #31DaysOfGraves Starter Pack. It's loaded with lots of people that took part in 31 Days Of Graves.

bsky.app/starter-pack...

You might find some new like-minded people to follow. 🪦 📸 💜

Thanks
@orsa-marga.bsky.social

Very clever 😆.

What do I do on day 32?!

Can you please share a link to the 31DaysOfGraves Starterpack?

I can't find it when I search using that name.

Thomas Norman (Norm) DELLER Thomas Norman | Deller | T.D | Service number Q119874 | Captain

Thomas Norman Deller was a Captain in the Australian Army Chaplains Department enlisting on 13 November 1941.

vwma.org.au/explore/peop...

The headstone of Thomas Norman and Mabel Elizabeth Deller is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Portion 28, Section 48, Grave 1C. Friends of Toowong Cemetery is a volunteer group that discover and share the history and stories of Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

A close up of an unknown symbol on the headstone of Thomas Norman and Mabel Elizabeth Deller is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Portion 28, Section 48, Grave 1C.

Can you help identify this symbol on a headstone in Toowong Cemetery?

Rev. T. Norman Deller was born in Toowoomba on 2 July 1895. He served Methodist churches in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Kilcoy and Fiji.

Read about Norm and Mabel's time as Missionaries in Fiji: journeyonline.com.au/magazine/mis...

Unfortunately in a recent upgrade to the Brisbane City Council Memorial Search, this advanced search feature no longer allows you to search using the Plot location.

We are not happy with the change 😡